Instant Story

Challenge #03641-I353: Communication Barrier

They cannot speak Galactic Standard or Galactic Simple, the translator is broken. Fortunately, the human has learned to speak, and understand, their whistling language. -- Anon Guest

Translator units were never entirely reliable. It was why most of the Alliance relied upon JOATS, polyglots, and stunt linguists to assist in negotiations. Make no mistake, translator units do an excellent job of translating the words. However... idioms, slang, and cultural references often slip through the cracks.

Translation software is always updating in an attempt to keep the metaphorical finger on the pulse of ever-changing language.

And then there's the Rennijym. A species of Avian Havenworlder who communicate exclusively in clicks and whistles. Most species can at least imitate the sounds necessary to handle GalSimple, even with some difficulty, but the Rennijym are not made that way.

Support me on Patreon / Buy me a Ko-fi

Prompts remaining: 63 Submit a Prompt!
[Ask a question (http://www.internutter.org/bb/category/4/comments-feedback)!

Challenge #03640-I352: A Needed Break

A runaway from a brothel hides trying to use the cloak Wraithvine had set aside during meditation. A very rude individual then grabs the floating wizard to demand where their "property" is and demand "it be returned". -- Anon Guest

It's very rude to shake an Elf out of their meditations. Most Elves find ways to retaliate that range from subtle and disturbing illusions to disfiguring or near-lethal touch attacks. Most people knew this.

This fellow didn't seem to care.

"You have

Challenge #03639-I351: Convalescence Telepresence

The human had severe injuries to the point they could not move. Until the body could heal, or if the injuries were too severe, replaced, they had a special, AI-produced, neural net placed on their head, and an android body to move around and do things for them. -- Anon Guest

"I don't want no chips in my head, I don't want no copies made of me. If I'm dying, I'm dying. No implants. I knew what I was doing when I

Challenge #03638-I350: A Cursed Gift

“Wear a mask for too long, it will become your face,” and, “fake it till you make it,” mean the same thing for very different reasons -- Anon Guest

The Mask of Aspirations was soft like clay in her hands. It would fit easily over her face and do nothing. Not until she stated her terms. Agda shaped a pretty nose for it and watched as it returned to a bland and uninteresting normalcy.

She had to tell it what she wanted.

Challenge #03637-I349: My Kind of Battle

Former Vorax, they gave up raiding which is all but unheard of in their species, much less their particular sect of their species, still want to fight, have competitions. Then they hear of humans having vicious battles where they choose a foodstuff and try to out-EAT each other. Battle where the losers are the ones that eat the LEAST food?? Now that is THEIR kind of fight! -- Anon Guest

"All I can eat?" repeated Vorax Daiv. They were already dribbling in

Challenge #03636-I348: A Thousand and One Uses

"Please don't."

"What are you talking about?"

"I know that look, I realize this is a hijacking, but don't do it."

"Aw, but it'll be fun!"

"Do I need to remind you of how many hours you spent in decontamination?"

"Fine! I'll go and stop them in the normal bloody suit. You're no fun!" -- Anon Guest

Humans and their fun. They leaped off of tall things with only special suits and good timing to stop a fatal splat at the other

Challenge #03635-I347: Offered Cup of Kindness

They were demon-born, filled with hate and rage. They gained an army of demon-borns, and conquered a land. All of them fueled with the same rage borne from years of mistreatment, betrayal, and cruelty. Can the gentle act of a small handful of humans, and others, soothe these darkened hearts back into the light before it's too late? -- The New Guy

When all you have ever known is hate, it is easy to feel it overtake you. In the grand city

Challenge #03634-I346: Incoming!

The lady came by post. -- From Rowean

The cryocoffin was covered in hoarfrost. It had batteries and auxiliary power sources enough to see its occupant safely into the current set of hands. There were also a disturbing number of rerouting stickers visible under the ice.

Thank the Powers that there was also a manual. How to make sure the unit was powered. How to make certain the occupant was still viable. Finally, how to safely thaw and revive once the reader

Challenge #03633-I345: Really Big Softy

A Human has a pair of massive Maine Coon cats. They're gentle, fluffy, and HUGE. Needless to say, until they get to know the felines, some Havenworlders are terrified. The poor things are rescue cats from a cruel Deregger who had them declawed. -- Anon Guest

The Human had a pair of predators as pets. Because of course a Human saw nothing wrong with keeping predators in their habitat. Deathworlders. They were all the same. Right up to claiming their carnivorous beasts

Challenge #03632-I344: You Think You're Smart

The prophecy, a young girl of humble means will rise up against tyranny. With no sword in hand, only the heart, the tyrant will end, balance restored, and peace once more to a war-torn land. -- Anon Guest

Tyrants generally mislike prophecies in which they get overthrown. It's a whole thing. One would think that, when faced with a prophecy about heroes with humble beginnings, a tyrant might actually eliminate any kind of humble setting by -say- affording their peasants some decent

Challenge #03631-I343: Core Education

More lessons for the young man, maybe a few life lessons on self care, and self confidence? Maybe, eventually, helping others from that school?

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03570-i281-object-lessons#comments -- Anon Guest

They say that the oldest magic is the strongest, and they're not wrong. In the glory days of forgotten empires, there were less people for more magic. So of course every spell was stronger and had lasting power.

In the more recent day, such as the days Strodius

Challenge #03630-I342: And Two Hands For You

A person finds Wraithvine and friends. They present hir with boots made especially for long, hard, wearing, with spells embedded in the boots to boost longevity of the materials, though they were well made to be proofed even against mud and water. Also new clothes also made for centuries of wearing, and a brand new heavy winter clothing. The same person made clothing and new footwear for hir friends, and even a little winter jacket for Lilbit, though was unsure how to

Challenge #03629-I341: Populist or Perish

Wraithvine enters a village where everyone is absolutely terrified of hir. From the oldest adult, to the youngest toddler. One child bumping hir and falling down screams, while the mother gets to her knees begging hir not to harm the child. The reason? A cult going around terrifying entire villages with horror stories about Wraithvine, trying to get people to fear and shun the gentle Elven mage. What a mess. -- Anon Guest

Wraithvine hadn't even introduced hirself to anyone, nor had

Challenge #03628-I340: Safety and Security

The tug is brought back to the station, the owners are told what happened, but are not angry at the kids, like Oz, is only greatly disappointed. However, the kids must face consequences for their behavior, and the parents are going to get a SERIOUS lesson in child-care, and a long talking-to.

https://peakd.com/fiction/@internutter/challenge-03565-i276-avast-ye -- Lessons

It's universally agreed that eight and under is a bit young for Grand Theft Space Tug. There was going to be a

Challenge #03627-I339: Legally Bound

“I finally created the ultimate slave contract where the victim is enslaved by their own free will, they may be able to break it anytime but the repercussion will be emotionally immense.” “My lord, these are just adoption papers”

oh here’s part 2 -- Anon Guests

[AN: I can only guess that these are from two different Nonnies, but the second link supplied leads only to the first bit. Alas, alack]

Lord Aszhatt glared at the seneschal. "But they must fear

Menu

Flash fiction fresh from my fingers to your mind!

Challenge #03641-I353: Communication Barrier

Challenge #03640-I352: A Needed Break

Challenge #03639-I351: Convalescence Telepresence

Challenge #03638-I350: A Cursed Gift

Challenge #03637-I349: My Kind of Battle

Challenge #03636-I348: A Thousand and One Uses

Challenge #03635-I347: Offered Cup of Kindness

Challenge #03634-I346: Incoming!

Challenge #03633-I345: Really Big Softy

Challenge #03632-I344: You Think You're Smart

Challenge #03631-I343: Core Education

Challenge #03630-I342: And Two Hands For You

Challenge #03629-I341: Populist or Perish

Challenge #03628-I340: Safety and Security

Challenge #03627-I339: Legally Bound